Eid Al Fitr marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a time for celebration and spending time with loved ones and reflecting on the month that’s passed. In Arab countries, Eid Al Fitr is also marked by a public holiday, often giving both the public and private sectors a couple of extra days off – meaning a long weekend to be enjoyed. With the next public holiday on the horizon, hotels around the region, and the world, are putting on enticing Eid offers to lure travellers to their shores this long weekend. From discounts and villa upgrades in the Maldives to fantastic discounts on Accor’s Middle East, Turkey and Africa properties, here are the best Eid holiday staycations, vacations and offers for 2023 to book now.
The Residence Maldives Falhumaafushi and Dhigurah
The Maldives is one of the most popular vacation spots for an Eid holiday, around a four-hour flight from the GCC and with hundreds of resorts to choose from. With beautiful blue waters, white sands and resorts for every traveller, you’re never going to be disappointed (even if the weather isn’t the best). This Eid holiday 2023, The Residence Maldives Falhumaafushi and Dhigurah are offering GCC residents some incredible discounts on their best available rates. Located in the picturesque Gaafu Alifu Atoll, Residence Maldives Falhumaafushi boasts a selection of beachfront rooms and over-water villas, and is offering GCC residents up to 40% off their stay, with an additional 10% when staying for four nights or more. The offer includes a complimentary villa upgrade from Sunrise Beach Pool Villa or Sunrise Water Pool Villa to Sunset Water Pool Villa (based on availability at the time of booking). Dhigurah is also offering a fantastic deal for GCC residents with savings of up to 50%. Highlights of Dhigurah include Castaway Island (with the option of a Castaway Picnic Lunch), snorkelling, water sports and a daily destressing yoga session. Families will love the Turtle kids club, for children aged between 3 and 12 and with daily programmes like nature walks, table tennis and treasure hunts, and teen programmes including chess competitions, archery and kayaking.
Falhumaafushi, cenizaro.com; Dhigurah, cenizaro.com
Ceylon Tea Trails
At just over a four-hour flight from Dubai, Sri Lanka is a popular vacation destination for GCC residents, and with beautiful temperates (never mind the odd rainshower), Eid Al Fitr is the perfect excuse to visit the Indian Ocean island. One of the island’s most esteemed hotel groups Resplendent Ceylon has put together a handful od curated luxurious experiences with fantastic inclusions for large groups, making it the ideal vacation spot for GCC families or groups of friends. Forgo the beach this Eid holiday in favour of the island’s cool and lush inlands carpeted with tea plantations and thick forests at Ceylon Tea Trails’ Norwood Bungalow. Perched at an altitude of 1,250m in the thick of the Ceylon tea region, this charming hotel comprises five beautifully resorted tea planter residences (or bungalows) that date back to the colonial era – and guests have a private chef, butler and full-board meals including breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and supper. The property is offering groups the chance to enjoy a 20% discount on spa services, a private visit to a tea factory and a half-day-tour when booking this Eid – the perfect excuse to get the family together.
Hatton; Eid rates from about AED3,230; resplendentceylon.com
Accor properties
The operator of some of the world’s most beautiful and luxurious hotels, hotel giant Accor is offering a fantastic deal this Eid for members of its ALL loyalty programme. Free to join, members will be able to avail a 25% discount at selected properties across the Middle East, Africa and Turkey, at iconic Accor brands like luxurious Raffles and Fairmont, trendy SLS, chic Sofitel and quirky MGallery. The offer is available to guests booking a two-night stay or longer via the ALL website or app – with guests also entered into a draw to win an incredible 1 million reward points, meaning plenty more holidays at gorgeous global hotels to come…
all.accor.com/promotions-offers
The Residence Zanzibar
The Residence Zanzibar lies on the peaceful southwest side of the island, around an hour’s drive from the capital Stone Town, and is one of the most all-encompassing luxury resorts on the island. One of Zanzibar’s best hotels for intimate privacy, the villa-only hotel offers 66 private boltholes generously spread amongst a 32-hectare estate of beachfront and tropical gardens home to monkeys and many species of birds. Each villa, of which there are garden and beachfront options, is equipped with a king-size bed with billowing white drapes, stand-alone tubs, a sitting room and a private pool on a wooden deck. Villas come with charming bicycles to explore the verdant grounds, which hide a lake-like infinity pool, a white-sand beachfront, two main restaurants (serving halal food) and a spa – nestled in thick vegetation. This Eid holiday, GCC residents are granted an exclusive offer with the hotel offering a free meal plan upgrade from half board to full board including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Along with this, guests staying 7 nights or more will receive a 35-minute spa treatment and 20% off additional spa treatments as well as 20% off food and beverages. The deal is actually valid until 20 December 2023, so there’s still time to avail this great offer even if you can’t make it this long weekend.
Eid rates from about AED1,455 a night; cenizaro.com
Cape Weligama
Perched on Sri Lanka’s soaring southern cliffs is Cape Weligama and sitting in 12- acres of tropical garden overlooking the Indian Ocean is Cape Weligama – an all-encompassing beach resort from Resplendent Ceylon. The hotel has just 39 rooms across 23 Villas and 16 Suites and three dining outlets and villas have private infinity pools shaded by lush greenery. Spacious rooms and suites are inspired by the hospitality of a Sri Lankan village and verandas look out onto the gardens. Inviting guests to enjoy the sublime natural beauty of its setting, Cape Weligama is offering an Exclusive Garden Package this Eid, which includes a three-night full-board stay in a luxury villa with a private pool and garden, a private BBQ garden dinner, chef’s table dining experience once every three nights, a mixology session followed by sundowners and dinners, floating breakfast, private yoga class during the stay, transfers and airport fast track. A three-day Junior Ranger Programme will also be running to entertain and educate the little ones – a learning experience of print tracking, and understanding animal characteristics and a hike led by experienced rangers. Children who successfully finish the course can earn a “Specialist” certification for their preferred animal or be awarded a “Junior Tracker” certificate and achievement badges.
Rates starting from US$ 7,400 (about AED 27,180) for three nights on fully inclusive basis); resplendentceylon.com
Milaidhoo Maldives
Boutique island resort Milaidhoo is continuously ranked as one of the most romantic resorts in the Maldives – focusing on barefoot luxury and creating intimate memories. Opened in 2016, the resort lies in the UNESCO biosphere Baa Atoll, close to the famous Hanifaru Bay famed for its mantas. Guests staying at the resort from 20 to 24 April will be able to experience a themed daily afternoon tea, shisha at the Compass pool bar every evening, and an ayurvedic-inspired ceremony designed to cleanse and detoxify the body, ease tension and re-energise at the Serenity Spa. Inclusions as part of the Eid celebrations include daily breakfast at the Ocean Restaurant, one floating breakfast per stay, a bottle of champagne on arrival, 20% discount on excursions and a 10% discount on spa treatments. Guests will also be invited to a Middle Eastern dinner inspired by the spirit of giving on 22 April – giving a handful more reasons to visit this tropical island paradise this Eid Al Fitr. Milaidhoo can be reached easily by a 30-minute seaplane from Malé’s Velana International Airport, or a 15-minute domestic flight to Dharavandhoo domestic airport in Baa Atoll, followed by a 15-minute speedboat ride.
milaidhoo.com
